Yup, I'm an idiot. More than an idiot - I'm just incredibly stupid and irresponsible.
So I'm down here in Oklahoma City getting ready to run the half. No biggie, no stress. I've done this a million times before. You just register, show up, pick up your number, grab your goodie bag, fill said bag with crap, hydrate, stuff face with pasta, run, get more crap at finish line, stretch out and head home. Same basic procedure I've done countless times.
That being the case, I'm now a pro at the out of town race thing. I follow the same procedure every time:
- Check with wife to make sure race doesn't correspond with any important anniversary/birthday/dinner - check
- Reserve hotel room - check
- Book flight (if necessary) - check
- Book rental car (if necessary) - check
- Register for race - CRAP! Forgot to take care of that little detail.
No worries! When I did OKC three years ago, it wasn't that big of a race and they were still accepting registration at the expo. Being the good little runner that I am, I check their site and see that you can still register in person the day before the race. Cool! So I'll just suck it up and pay $80 to run a half marathon at the last minute. Stupid, but hey, I'm not too bright, so I'll do it.
So I, grab the wife, hop in the car and head to OKC only to find out when I enter the expo that the half is sold out. CRAP! I've driven 5 hours. What do I do now?
Do I punt, and head home to KC? No. Too shameful.
Do I run the race in stealth mode? No. Too stupid. Its probably an offence up there with doping in the Tour or roids in baseball. Nope. Ain't going to risk it.
Find an event rep and beg, plead, cry? Nope. Its not manly to grovel or cry.
Pay $110 for the last minute registration for the full and only run the half. Done. Pride intact, wallet lighter and charity happier.
Yup. I just paid $110 to run a flipping half marathon! Like I said, stupid is as stupid does.
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